How are you? Is everything good with you? I do hope that you are doing well and enjoying your new week.

Today is the 292nd day that I have been in the US. I attended a new lecture of Management Information System by Dr. Randall S. Sexton and the 3rd quiz. Then I continued my adventure to find a new place to live.

I went to the Property Office of the university and I called many places and went to see some houses. Unfortunately, most of them only rent their house for 1 year or 6 months as my landlord does; fortunately I have found 2 places that can rent their apartment weekly, but, they are not available of Internet, cable of TV, washer and dryer.

I felt lucky that I have gotten much help from 5 classmates and 2 American friends who I just met first time in their offices. Now, I have had at least 3 choices. Since I do not want to spend much time on this kind of things, so, even though the living condition of these places are worse than my current place, as long as I can paint, sing and connect Internet, I will be in the happiness.

In the evening, after reading my textbook for a while, I looked my first white peonies on the wall and I decided to re-create a new one.

In fact, since I created my first white peony Saturday night, I have been wishing to improve it because I did not think that I had mastered the skills of creating a white peony.

So, I read my only Chinese art textbook that relates to peony painting skill in my hands-- I had bought more than 300 Chinese art books since 2003, I could not bring them to the US.

Rely on the direction of the 2 lines words about white peony painting in the book, combined what my art teacher has taught me in the past 6.5 years, I completed my second peony painting.

I was so happy when I saw my peonies were created one by one. Now I felt that I have found my own way to create my own white peonies already. I have put my new painting on my web site already and hope to bring you a big smile.

Do you know what was in my mind when I was painting? A big word “Charm” -- the charm of the colors.

Yes, since my childhood until my son was born, white and light blue were my favorite colors... most of my clothes, shoes, headdress, handbag, bicycle... almost every thing was white. Then I most enjoyed white, blue and golden colors, then I love all of the colors. Because I feel every color has its own charm. The key is where I put it on. As long as I put it on a most suitable place, it is the most beautiful color.

Management is same. As soon as we have fixed the organization's structure ok, we have to distribute our resource. Distributing resource is just like using colors. If managers can put every kind of resource, especially every employee on the best suitable place, each of them will play the best role and help the organization to create the best benefit.

Do you think so?

I am just a learner on art of painting, music, English and Chinese language, to work on the web site in my free time. I would really like to do a few things with what I have learned to make this little web site to be an Electronic Bridge of Culture Exchange, Chinese Language Learning & Friendship making. To help the others while to improve myself.

I would like to appreciate your understanding, directions, supports and hope to get your friendly direction and help.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, you are welcome to write to shirley@ebridge.cn or Yiping007@MissouriState.edu, or to publish your opinions in the forum.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Mon, July 20, 2009 From USA